The newest member of the Tennessee Baseball Hall of Fame and current New York Mets knuckleballer R.A. Dickey will be presented with a "Thurman" at the 32nd Annual Thurman Munson Awards Dinner held at the Grand Hyatt Hotel in New York City tonight. The gala benefits AHRC-New York City Foundation.

The Thurman Award is presented for success on the field of play and philanthropic works off of it. Dickey helps to operate the Ocala, Fla.-based Honoring the Father Ministries which provides medical supplies, powdered milk and baseball equipment to the impoverished in Latin American countries.

Tennessee seeks its third win a row against a No. 1 team as the Vols play at top-ranked Kentucky tonight. Check out GAMEDAY CENTRAL: Vols at Kentucky as well as Cuonzo Martin's Monday presser previewing the game:

"Vol Calls" originates from the Texas Roadhouse at Turkey Creek in West Knoxville and can be heard across the state on the Vol Network and online at utsports.com. Fans may ask a question by calling 1-800-688-8657 or Verizon customers may dial #TENN. Listeners may also submit a question through the Vol Network-IMG Facebook page.

Records from the early years of the Tennessee baseball program aren't always easy to come by. Because there is no central database for information like game times, locations or in some cases scores, there are a number of holes in the Volunteer record book prior to the 1965 campaign.

Fortunately there are Tennessee fans like Mark Aubrey, who runs www.oldknoxvillebaseball.blogspot.com, an online repository for his research regarding the history of baseball in East Tennessee.

Most recently, Aubrey uncovered an article (pictured below) from "The Journal and Tribune," a Knoxville paper which was published from 1898-1924. The story provided a date for a long-forgotten game against Johnson Bible College. Because of Aubrey's research, we now know that the contest took place on April 17, 1917.

While just one piece in the very long process of creating a complete history of Tennessee baseball, Aubrey's research helped us get one step closer.

Anyone who has information regarding the early years of the Vol baseball program (specifically before 1965), is encouraged to contact assistant media relations director Cameron Harris at CHarri48@utk.edu.

The Vols hired Sunseri as their new defensive coordinator and it gives them an instant boost on the recruiting trail, particularly on the Atlantic Coast- an area of the country that is important for Tennessee to sign players. The Vols have to recruit nationally because the state of Tennessee does not produce enough in-state talent on a yearly basis for the program to compete at a high level in the SEC and nationally, so having great recruiters on staff is a must. Sunseri was 247Sports National Recruiter of the Year for the 2011 class when he was at Alabama.

Jay Graham's return his alma mater comes in at No. 7:

Graham is one of the most successful running backs in Vols history and his arrival in Knoxville gives Tennessee an instant staff upgrade from a recruiting standpoint. Historically, the Vols have been able to recruit Graham's home state of North Carolina (he's from Concord) and his presence makes them instantly competitive in that state, particularly in the Charlotte area. Graham was the recruiter of record for running back Marcus Lattimore at his previous stop, South Carolina.

Vols defensive lineman Malik Jackson had a pass break-ups in the Senior Bowl. Check out the entire box score. Check out this photo of Jackson with his pass break-up from the Press-Register.

South Team defensive lineman Malik Jackson (97) deflects the pass of North Team quarterback Kirk Cousins (8) of Michigan State during the second quarter of the Senior Bowl at Ladd-Peebles Stadium Saturday, Jan. 28, 2012, in Mobile, Ala. (Press-Register/Mike Kittrell)

With the Leadoff Banquet last week and the start of spring practice yesterday, the excitement level about the upcoming Tennessee baseball season is on the upswing. Check out yesterday's Vol Report for everything you need to know about the team's first official practice. Hear what first-year head coach Dave Serrano had to say in the video below.

Also make sure you check out all of the latest media coverage on the Volunteer baseball team:

Baker, a Nashville native, is relaunching his career after years of serious elbow and hip injuries. He reached the finals of the Knoxville Challenger in November.

Williams is currently ranked No. 511 in the world, but he now has earned enough points this year to jump into the ATP top 500 for the first time in his career.

Next Week at Burnie's: Former Vol John-Patrick Smith will be back in action next week at the Burnie International, a $50,000 Challenger event. It will be the Vols' fourth Challenger since turning pro in July.

"I want to show that I play end, that I'm not a slow inside guy that can only rush the guard or the center." Jackson told the National Football Post. "I can come off the edge and handle the run. I want to show that I'm very valuable and I can do a lot for their team, playing defensive end or defensive tackle."

With the 2012 baseball season right around the corner (23 days!), a few changes are being made at Lindsey Nelson Stadium. On Wednesday, installation of a padded, black outfield wall began. The new wall, which will be trimmed in orange, will be a significant aesthetic improvement and provide a much safer surface for players.

Three former Vols will be seeking their first Super Bowl rings as the New England Patriots with Shaun Ellis and Jerod Mayo take on the New York Giants with Deon Grant. With the three additions, 73 Vols will have been on Super Bowl rosters. Previously, 30 different UT products have won 37 Super Bowls.

The Vols are still riding high after their second win over a Top 15 team this month, beating both Florida and UConn in two of the last three Saturdays. Here are the latest stories on Cuonzo Martin's squad.

Jerod Mayo made eight tackles, had a pass defended and a quarterback pressure for the Patriots. Shaun Ellis played, but didn't have a tackle.

Ellis and Mayo will be the 71st and 72nd former Vols to play in the Super Bowl. 30 former Vols have combined to win 37 Super Bowls.

Deon Grant returns to the Super Bowl with the Giants. He also played in Super Bowl XXXVIII with the Carolina Panthers in 2004. In Sunday's NFC Championship Game, Grant made two tackles in the overtime win. With the 49ers, Parys Haralson made three tackles in defeat.

Tennessee Baseball Hall of Famer Mike Keith and current voice of Vol Baseball John Wilkerson catch up at the 2012 Leadoff Banquet to reminisce about their time together in the booth and talk about the future of the program under new head coach Dave Serrano.

Former Tennessee star and New York native Tobias Harris will play at Madison Square Garden tonight as his Milwaukee Bucks play at the New York Knicks. Check out this feature story on Harris from Newsday: Tobias Harris homecoming at MSG on Friday

Here is the start of the story:

For members of Tobias Harris' family, Friday night will be an occasion they have always dreamed of and yet simply cannot imagine.

Only two years ago this week, they were watching him play for Half Hollow Hills West in a big high school game. Friday night, they will see him play at Madison Square Garden -- for the Bucks against the Knicks.

"I can't even explain the feeling," said Torrel Harris, father of Tobias and his five siblings. "It's really just a spiritual feeling. Honestly, I think I'm in a dream. I just feel like it's such a blessing. Seeing him play in Madison Square Garden, I just might break down."

Nearly 1,000 Tennessee fans were on hand Wednesday night at the 2012 Leadoff Banquet, presented by Coca-Cola, where they were able to hear from former Vol and current New York Mets pitcher R.A. Dickey as well as two-time World Series champion manager with the Boston Red Sox and current ESPN analyst Terry Francona.

Memphis Commercial Appeal sports columnist Geoff Calkins recently intervied former Vol catcher Blake Forsythe and his brother Logan, currently a second baseman for the San Diego Padres, for "Sports Files" on WKNO.

Blake, a Memphis native, talks about why he chose Tennessee, his first Volunteer football game, his first season in professional baseball, his goals moving forward and much more.

Former Vol Chris Lofton is one of 10 finalists for hit ESPN show SportsNation's best 3-point shooters contest. To vote for Lofton, click here and rank Chris as No. 1 on your ballot. Below are some highlights of Lofton's 3-point feats:

RB Tauren Poole, Tennessee: After a slow start, Poole has really separated himself as the top running back on either squad. He runs with low pad level and quickness through the line of scrimmage, routinely getting to the second level. Poole had an up-and-down 2011 campaign, which is why he isn't at the Senior Bowl, but he has been running tough, decisive and quick with smooth acceleration in practices.

Tauren Poole, RB, Tennessee -- Poole established himself as the top running back at the Shrine Game on Tuesday, then further affirmed this opinion in the minds of scouts today. He displayed incredible quickness and elusiveness every time he touched the ball, and also showed the uncanny knack to get past the line of scrimmage and through open running lanes without being touched by a defender. In the open field he showed a burst of speed and the ability to catch the ball. It was another terrific day for the Volunteer product.

Evaluating running backs during all-star game practices is difficult because defenders are not allowed to test their ability to avoid or ward off tackles. But Tennessee tailback Tauren Poole showed off his SEC pedigree Wednesday. He showed very good quickness and wiggle in the hole as well as enough speed to turn the corner if no openings were available inside. He's smooth running after the catch, too, and his pad level helps him run through contact. His hands as a receiver are natural, with one juggle on a red-zone screen as the only blemish. Poole's numbers dropped off in 2011 behind a below-average Volunteers offensive line (1,034 yards, 11 TD in 2010; 693 and 5 in 2011), but there's little doubt he's the top talent at the position on either team this week and could be a great Saturday find during draft weekend.

The 2012 Tennessee Baseball Leadoff Banquet, presented by Coca-Cola, will take place tonight at the Knoxville Convention Center. The event will open with a reception and silent auction at 5 p.m., followed by dinner at 6 p.m. and the start of the program at 6:30 p.m.

At the NBA season continues, here's a look at former Vols in the league.

Tobias Harris had his second-best scoring game of the young season in last night's Bucks 105-95 loss to Denver. Harris scored 14 points and grabbed a pro-best eight rebounds along with three assists in a season-high 27 minutes.

Harris is averaging 8.1 points and 3.1 rebounds in 16.9 minutes per night in seven games after missing the first few games of the season with dehydration.

C.J. Watson, who is in his second year with the Bulls, had his best game of the young season last night in a 118-97 win over Phoenix as he scored 23 points, handed out five assists and grabbed four rebounds in a 33 minutes. Watson has tallied 40 points in the last two games as he is seeing more time with Chicago.

For the year, Watson is averaging 10.1 points and 3.6 assists in seven games with a start in 18.4 minutes per game.

Former Vol and current starting pitcher for the Kansas City Royals, Luke Hochevar avoided arbitration by agreeing to a $3.51 million contract for the 2012 season on Tuesday, according to the Kansas City Star.

Hochevar, 28, posted an 11-11 record with a 4.68 ERA in 31 starts in 2011, setting career highs in innings (198.0) and strikeouts (128).

In his three years at Tennessee, Hochevar compiled a 25-10 record with a 3.05 ERA in 51 career appearances, including 33 starts. In 280.1 total innings, he struck out 287 and held opposing hitters to a .232 batting average.

In 2005, he was named the SEC Pitcher of the Year and won the Roger Clemens Award after tallying a 15-3 record with a 2.26 ERA while leading the Vols to the 2005 College World Series.

That player who terrifies opposing players with his size, speed or shear strength. He can plow a quarterback into the turf at will or can ram his way through a line before choosing to run over linebackers instead of around them.

Unleashing pain is a must in his game. Without it, he leaves the field unsatisfied.

5. Justin Hunter, WR, Tennessee: Hunter was sidelined for most of the year with a season-ending knee injury, but when he was on the field, he frightened defensive backs. He was arguably the league's best deep threat when he was healthy, catching 17 passes for 314 yards (18.5 yards per catch) and two touchdowns. He was even scarier in 2010, when he caught just 16 passes for 415 yards (25.9) and seven touchdowns. Hunter should be full speed next season, so expect a few defenders to get a good luck at his last name next fall. Covering him is an issue and keeping up with him once he has the ball might be even harder.

Former Vol John-Patrick Smith faces a pair of veterans to start doubles play Wednesday at the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Smith and fellow Aussie Greg Jones take on Leander Paes of India and Radek Stepanek of the Czech Republic in the opening round.

The match is the fourth on court 7, which is unfortunately not one of ESPN's seven televised courts. With the 16-hour time difference, matches begin Tuesday at 7 p.m. Eastern. Live scoring is available at australianopen.com.

Smith is currently ranked No. 588 in the world in doubles, having won three Futures titles last year with former Vol Ben Rogers. The Australian Open marks the first pro tournament in which Smith has played doubles without Rogers, the 2005 All-American. Jones is ranked No. 284.

Paes is a true veteran in the doubles world and is currently seventh in the ATP rankings. He has been a runner up three times, including last season, and has six Grand Slam titles, his last one coming in the 2009 US Open.

Stepanek, a former top-10 singles player, is currently ranked No. 91 in doubles and has appeared in the Australian Open doubles draw four times. His best result was a quarterfinal appearance in 2007.

Former Vol Rhyne Williams earned a close win on a former college foe Monday to earn a spot in the main draw of the Sunrise (Fla.) Futures.

Williams beat Virginia sophomore Alex Domijan 6-3, 7-6 (5) in the fourth and final round of qualifying to move into the main draw. The two had previously faced each other in the first round of the 2010 USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships, a meeting Williams won on his way to taking the tournament title.

Williams, ranked No. 511, will face Romania's Gabriel Moraru in the first round.

Williams and fellow Vol Tennys Sandgren begin doubles play Wednesday against top-seeded Jack Sock and Nick Monroe, who beat the Tennessee pair in the Futures last week in Plantation, Fla.

Sandgren will not be joining Williams in the main draw of singles. He lost his final qualifying match 7-5, 6-4 to former Florida Gator Antoine Benneteau.

Tennessee linebacker Austin Johnson will play in the Casino Del Sol All-Star Game on Monday night at 8 p.m. ET. Johnson will be wearing his familiar No. 40 for the East All-Stars.

The game airs on various channels nationwide including SportSouth in the Southeast. The game also airs nationally on Fox College Sports as well as on Fox Sports Arizona, Fox Sports Southwest Plus and Fox Sports Houston Plus.

Williams' final qualifying round match has the potential to one of the best matchups of the entire tournament as the two-time All-American is set to play Virginia sophomore Alex Domijan. Williams and Domijan last met in the 2010 USTA/ITA National Intercollegiate Indoor Championships. With Domijan the top seed and unbeaten in his college career, Williams excelled in the critical moments and won 7-6, 7-6 in their only college clash.

Sandgren plays former Florida Gator Antoine Benneteau in his final match. Benneteau beat Sandgren last week at the Plantation (Fla.) Futures.

Two former Vols stars are part of the class that enter the Greater Chattanooga Sports Hall of Fame on Feb. 27. Bill Emendorfer and Herman Weaver along with former baseball assistant coach Larry Simcox will be enshrined.

Tickets for the 6:30 p.m. banquet cost $35 and are available through Hall of Fame president John Farr at 423-875-9282.

Here's more on the former Vols:

Emendorfer was the state heavyweight wrestling champion in 1968 and the runner-up the next year, after a senior football season in which he was captain of Cleveland's first state-title team and second undefeated squad in a row. A two-way lineman, he was the player of the year in East Tennessee and listed among the top 10 high school All-Americans, and he went on to UT and was the runner-up for Southeastern Conference freshman of the year and then started every game for Vols teams that went 31-5 (best in the country for those three years) with three bowl wins and three top-10 finishes. He was a first-team All-SEC guard and received All-America honorable mention as a senior.

Weaver, nicknamed "Thunderfoot," had an 11-year NFL career with the Lions and Seahawks and made two Pro Bowl appearances. Moving to the Chattanooga area as an adult, he was a high school football coach at Notre Dame and Chattanooga Valley and for years has been involved in sports ministry. An all-around athlete, he was an all-state tight end and all-state basketball player for Villa Rica (Ga.) High School before becoming an All-America punter for UT.

Simcox starred at East Ridge High School and Cleveland State Community College before becoming an All-SEC shortstop with Ole Miss and being drafted by the Houston Astros. He made it to the Southern League as a player but had what became a career-ending knee injury in May 1983, and then he spent two decades as an assistant coach at Ole Miss and Tennessee. He was with two Vols teams that finished third in the College World Series.

The final four of the NFL Playoffs are set and two more former Vols punched their tickets for a chance to play in Super Bowl XLVI.

The Ravens held off the Texans, 20-13 despite a huge day from former Vol Arian Foster. The running back gained 154 total yards (27-132 rushing and 5-22 receiving) but it wasn't enough for Houston. Foster also scored a TD on a 1-yard rush (WATCH HIGHLIGHT). On defense Jason Allen had a pass defended for the Texans. With the Ravens, Morgan Cox snapped 14 times on kicks and punts for Baltimore as they will face New England in the AFC Championship.

Saturday's Division Playoffs brought us an instant classic and a run-away.

- The 49ers rallied late to escape with a 36-32 win over the Saints. Parys Haralson and San Francisco head to the NFC Championship game with the win. Haralson had a tackle for the Niners.

With the Saints, Jabari Greer had a tackle and a pass defended. Robert Meachem made three catches for 18 yards. Aubrayo Franklin also started as nose tackle, but had no stats. Turk McBride was inactive.

- The Patriots routed the Broncos, 45-10. Four former Vols were in the game and made impacts. With the winning Patriots, Jerod Mayo made nine tackles including a TFL. Shaun Ellis had a tackle for a sack and TFL. He also had a quarterback hurry.

With the Broncos, who saw their season end, Britton Colquitt punted seven times for a 38.9 average. Robert Ayers made two tackles.

During the Vols game with No. 2 Kentucky on Saturday both Jarnell Stokes and Skylar McBee were trending on Twitter. Stokes was trending both Worldwide and in the United States. In addition to Stokes' name, the phrase "Size 20" was trending in reference to Stokes' shoe size.

We had done it! We gave hugs and high-fives all around above the clouds at the highest point in Africa.

The view was unforgettably magnificent, as incredible as anything I have ever seen. But as I took time to contemplate, I realized that the reason the view was so rich was the overall experience of the trek. We had walked approximately 40 miles and climbed 13,000 feet since the beginning of the journey, overcoming all kinds of adversities. All the while, we were building relationships with everyone from the porters to one another, sharing in our triumphs and helping one another in times of need.

A former Vol and current pitcher for the New York Mets, Dickey will be inducted in to the Tennessee Baseball Hall of Fame at the 2012 Leadoff Banquet on Wednesday.

Dickey is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness for the Bombay Teen Challenge, an organization that rescues and cares for women and girls in Mumbai who are at risk of being abused and exploited.

Check out GAMEDAY CENTRAL: Vols vs. Kentucky as ESPN will be in town for the 12 Noon clash today. Exactly 62 years ago, on Jan. 14, 1950, an unranked Tennessee squad defeated second-ranked Kentucky 66-53 in Knoxville.

The hiring of Sal Sunseri Defensive Coordinator by the Vols was briefly trending Worldwide on Twitter this morning around 11:30 a.m. His name was trending as high as third Worldwide and in the United States. "Sal Sunseri" was trending with the likes of #Fridaythe13th, Paula Deen, Today Is Friday, Manny Ramirez, Judith Light and Happy Swift Day.

When we got to Barafu camp, we were treated to vistas that defied our small scope of the world and its wonders. Before us, thousands of feet below, stretched cumulus cloud banks that looked like a never-ending field of the softest cotton one can imagine.

To our right sat Mount Meru, suspended above the clouds like a giant rocky temple. To our left were the sharp peaks of Mount Mawenzi, another of the Kilimanjaro volcanoes.

Being exposed to such majesty is humbling and begs me to contemplate how finite I really am.

Dickey is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness for the Bombay Teen Challenge, an organization that rescues and cares for women and girls in Mumbai who are at risk of being abused and exploited.

Tennessee and Miami (Fla.) are the only two schools to have active players on all eight remaining teams in the NFL Playoffs. The Vols (15) are second to the Hurricanes (18) in overall number of active players still competing in the playoffs according to NFL.com's rosters.

Tennessee is guaranteed of having a Super Bowl XLVI champion this year.

Former Vol John-Patrick Smith will make his career Grand Slam debut Wednesday in the qualifying draw of the Australian Open in Melbourne.

Smith, who received one of eight of Tennis Australia's qualifying wildcards, faces Furrukh Dustov of Uzbekistan in the opening round Wednesday at 10 a.m. on Show Court 3.

Because of the great time difference, those who want to keep up with the action live in the United States can tune in Tuesday at 6 p.m. Eastern. Smith's match is scheduled to be live streamed by AO TV at this link.

Dustov is currently ranked No. 262 in the world. After just six months on the tour, Smith is already ranked No. 437.

Former Vols Rhyne Williams and Tennys Sandgren start their 2012 professional tennis season Tuesday with the Plantation Open, a $10,000 Futures event in Plantation, Fla.

Williams starts the day by facing sixth-seeded Nicolas Devilder of France. Sandgren has the day off in singles; he is scheduled to play qualifier and former Florida Gator Antoine Benneteau of France on Wednesday.

In the afternoon, Williams and Sandgren team up again in doubles to take on the No. 2 seeds: Americans Nick Monroe and Jack Sock. Williams and Sandgren, who live and train together in Boca Raton, Fla., won a Futures doubles title together last year in Canada and reached the final in another.

Thankfully, my journey thus far has not solely been glimpses of my own mortality, but also of great splendor and beauty. Never have these words been more useful to me than in my attempt to describe the sights of the past two days.

Dickey is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness for the Bombay Teen Challenge, an organization that rescues and cares for women and girls in Mumbai who are at risk of being abused and exploited.

After making his long-awaited debut last night against the Clippers and getting only 8 minutes and 39 seconds on the court, the Bucks' first-round pick logged 23 minutes and made them all count against the Suns. Whether slashing to the rim, banging on the block or working the mid-range game, Harris kept most of his opportunities in quality zones on the court and wound up with 10 free throw attempts to show for his trouble. His 15 points on 4-8 shooting and 7-10 from the line continues to provide hope that he can make positive contributions to the team early in his NBA career. His +11 differential may be a bit misleading, considering the bulk of his minutes came when the game had already floated beyond the grasp of the team, but he left no reason to doubt his abilities in his first extended look in a regular season NBA game.

With this weekend's NFL playoff results, it is ensured that a former Vol will win the Super Bowl in 2012. All remaining eight teams feature a former UT player on their rosters. Here's a look at Sunday's former Vols in action in the postseason.

In the Broncos thrilling 29-23 overtime win over the Steelers, three Vols saw action. With the winning Broncos, Robert Ayers made a major impact on defense with three tackles including two sacks for 24 yards, two TFLs and three quarterback hurries. Ayers sacked the Steelers' Ben Rothlisberger on the final play of regulation for a 15-yard loss. Check out highlights of Ayers two sacks: WATCH HIGHLIGHT; WATCH HIGHLIGHT.

Britton Colquitt punted the ball four times for a 41.0 average with one inside the 20-yard line. With the Steelers, Ramon Foster started on the offensive line at his usual right guard position.

Tennessee's football team couldn't afford to wait on its freshmen. Those young guys also had no interest in waiting to produce.

That combination didn't help the Vols finish the season with a bowl bid, but after again getting so many first-year players on the field and knocking out a few growing pains quickly, they could be in much better position to make a run moving forward in Derek Dooley's third season.

Assuming the development continues as planned for UT, starting with these five players after productive debut seasons, the program could be in good hands when the freshman label is officially shed and they return as experienced sophomores.

Former Vols star Tobias Harris made his NBA debut on Saturday night as he scored four points in nine minutes off the bench for the Milwaukee Bucks in a 92-86 loss at the Los Angeles Clippers. He also had a rebound and a steal.

The game marked the NBA debuts of two Bucks players, first-round draft pick Tobias Harris and rookie Darington Hobson.

Harris was on a 10-minute limit as he played his first game after suffering dehydration and muscle soreness. He finished with four points, two fouls and one steal in 9 minutes. He played 5 minutes at the start of the second quarter and 4 minutes to open the final period.

"I felt good," Harris said. "It was good to just be out there, be playing and be active with the guys.

"I was being aggressive out there, just bring a scoring threat and play my role."

Harris said he hopes he can continue to build his minutes while he gets back in playing shape after being out more than three weeks.

"I thought he was OK for his first time," Skiles said. "He got a couple quick baskets. I would have liked to play him more.

"I'm hopeful in the next day or so there won't be any time restrictions and we can get him out there for some more minutes."

From New Orleans, it was a huge game for two former Vols as Robert Meachem hauled in four passes for 111 yards including a 56-yard touchdown. Jabari Greer made seven tackles and picked off two Matthew Stafford passes. Aubrayo Franklin made a tackle on defense.

Former Vol and current New York Met R.A. Dickey is now two days into his ascent of Mount Kilimanjaro. He checked in from the Shira plateau in his most recent blog for the New York Times.

Here is an excerpt from today's post:

I think I know now how Bilbo Baggins must have felt in Tolkien's "The Hobbit." My companions and I have set out on our own mountainous journey to try to attain a treasure.

The treasure in our case is not a pile of gold guarded by a dragon, but rather the gratification that comes with reaching the summit of Mount Kilimanjaro.

Dickey is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness for the Bombay Teen Challenge, an organization that rescues and cares for women and girls in Mumbai who are at risk of being abused and exploited.

A trio of birthdays among UT student-athletes today. Celebrating on Jan. 7 are freshman tennis player Brandon Fickey, volleyball senior Kayla Jeter and the newest member of the Vols, basketball freshman Jarnell Stokes.

I felt invigorated knowing that I was near the challenge of the mountain. It was 9:45 p.m. in Kilimanjaro when we landed, so the darkness prevented any potential view of the mountain. But I could feel its presence, like a giant beast lurking in the shadows. Only time will tell if this beast will be friend or foe.

Dickey is climbing Mount Kilimanjaro to raise awareness for the Bombay Teen Challenge, an organization that rescues and cares for women and girls in Mumbai who are at risk of being abused and exploited.

Back in September, Reggie and his brother Raleigh were honored as the legends of the game prior to UT's win over Cincinnati. Check out this feature from UTSports.com: Catching Up: Raleigh & Reggie McKenzie as well as this highlight package of the twins:

The players lining up on defense for New England have changed throughout the season. Injuries and inconsistency forced backups to play key roles, some with little preparation.

Fortunately for the Patriots, Jerod Mayo is still around.

The defensive captain directs teammates to the spots where they should line up and is the Patriot most likely to make the tackle. He's had more than 100 of them in each of his four NFL seasons, the first Patriot to do that, and led the team each year.

With a bye week before the top-seeded Patriots play their divisional playoff game on Jan. 14, Mayo and his teammates have more time to let their bruises heal and work together in practice.

Except for two games that he missed with a left knee injury that was expected to keep him out longer, Mayo has been a mainstay in the middle.

He made 103 tackles on a team that allowed the second most yards in the NFL, an average of 411.1 per game. With three defensive linemen, three linebackers and three defensive backs on injured reserve, he's had to coordinate a shifting cast.

Former Vol and current New York Mets minor league prospect Charley Thurber recently sat down with Mets Merized Online for a very interesting and insightful Q&A about his first season in professional baseball.

Thurber is currently working out in Knoxville with Tennessee baseball strength and conditioning coach Herman Demmink and a number of other professional baseball players. Here is an excerpt from the Q&A with Thurber.

This off-season I have been back in Knoxville, TN, at UT, working out with Herman Demmink of 3D Performance. We have been going through intense workouts focused on explosion, power, fast-twitch speed/quickness, and durability. I've had the pleasure to be working alongside a number of my former teammates from UT who are also in the professional ranks, including fellow Met and Volunteer, Blake Forsythe. We are enjoying working with a number of current major leaguers like Joe Nathan, Nate McClouth, and fellow Tennessee Volunteers Chase Headley, Mike Lincoln, and Luke Hochevar. Herman has a thorough, cutting-edge program and I look to come into this season the strongest, fastest, and healthiest that I've ever been.

Here's a look at former Vols who were in action on the final day of the NFL regular-season.

- Miami downed the New York Jets, 19-17 as two former Vols had huge games. Kevin Burnett had a game-best 14 tackles while Marvin Mitchell had the game-clinching interception with a 55-yard return for Miami. Mitchell also made five tackles. Tony McDaniel had two stops for the Dolphins.

- Green Bay won a shootout with Detroit, 45-41 as Chad Clifton (hamstring/back) returned to action as the Packers starting left tackle. Scott Wells also continued to start at center for Green Bay as the Packers piled up 550 yards of offense.

- New Orleans thumped Carolina, 45-17 as three former Vols played for the Saints. Robert Meachem had two catches for 30 yards. Jabari Greer made three tackles in a start while Aubrayo Franklin started at nose tackle, but had no tackles. With the Panthers, Omar Gaither was inactive.

- San Diego got by Oakland, 38-26 despite a 101-yard game from Denarius Moore of the Raiders. It was Moore's third 100-yard game of the season, this time on three catches. John Henderson was inactive with the knee injury.

- Pittsburgh edged Cleveland, 13-9 as Ramon Foster started at right guard with the Steelers. With the Browns, Montario Hardesty had two rushes for minus-2 yards.

- In punting showcase, Kansas City battled Denver to a 7-3 win. Britton Colquitt of the Chiefs had eight punts for a 47.1 average with four punts inside the 20-yard line. With the Broncos, Dustin Colquitt had nine punts for a 44.7 average with five inside the 20. Robert Ayers had three tackles including a 5-yard sack and a quarterback hurry.

- Baltimore won at Cincinnati, 24-16 as Morgan Cox snapped 11 times on kicks and punts for the Ravens. Gibril WIlson played on defense with the Bengals, but had no tackles.

- In the Sunday night game, the Giants beat the Cowboys, 31-14 to win the NFC East. Deon Grant made five tackles with the Giants. Jason Witten had seven catches for 69 yards for Dallas in the finale.